Jepchirchir Claims Gold in Tokyo Women’s Marathon, Luijten Finishes Strong in Challenging Conditions
Tokyo, Japan – Peres Jepchirchir of Kenya secured victory in the women’s marathon at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo on Sunday, finishing with a winning time of 2:24:43. the 31-year-old surged ahead of Ethiopian rival Tigst Assefa in the final stretch at the Japan National Stadium,adding another major triumph to her extraordinary career.
Assefa claimed silver, finishing just two seconds behind Jepchirchir. Uruguay’s Julia Paternain rounded out the podium with a bronze medal in 2:27:23. this win marks Jepchirchir’s second major victory in Japan,following her Olympic marathon gold in Tokyo in 2021. Assefa, sadly, had to settle for silver once again.
Dutch athlete Anne Luijten delivered a commendable performance, finishing 17th in a time of 2:32:27. Fellow Dutch runner Marcella Herzog completed the course in 2:39:57, finishing 40th.
Luijten navigated the notoriously challenging conditions – marked by intense heat and high humidity – with a strategic focus on cooling. “I took everything I could get at the water stations,” Luijten explained. “Liters of water over my head, ice packs in my top, and sponges. I think I had the best cooling strategy of all, because I didn’t feel hot at all.”
luijten’s strong showing has fueled speculation about her participation in the upcoming Amsterdam Marathon, where she will aim to defend her Dutch national title. However, her participation will depend on her recovery in the coming weeks.
**[Link to Full Results – World Athletics](https://worldathletics.org/en/competitions/world-athletics-championships/tok
